I hope no one would criticize you for doing your best—! How can anyone do anything more than the best they can?

People can be very judgmental, but that’s more a reflection of their own unprocessed pain than an accurate appraisal of reality.

Your piece really spoke to me regarding my own adult children. I too have big regrets, and I can see the patterns I inflicted on them when they were growing up being played out in my children’s struggles today. I was so clueless! And I was doing 💯 % of the best parenting job of which I was capable.

I too have learned that to express too much remorse over my parental failures makes the discussion (in their minds) all about me.

Great article and thank you for writing it! It’s a big important messy human topic!!